Ball catcher and thrower



April 25, 1950 w. L. BERRY 2,505,090

BALL CATCHER AND THROWER Filed July 9, 1946 7 a glr vuowkw Fug 5 I WLL/AM L .BeereY Patented Apr. 25, 1950 Application July 9, 1946, Serial No. 682,171

1 Claim.

My invention relates to toys and more particularlyto a device for a ball game.

The object of my invention is to provide a toy forming an arcuate track for a ball adapted to receive and eject said ball at either end of the track.

Another object of my invention is to provide a toy forming an arcuate track for a ball and adapted to eject the ball in a curve so that it can be caught on a second toy of the same kind.

A further object of my invention is to provide a toy forming an arcuate track for a ball and adapted to eject the ball at one end so that it will execute a complete circle and can be caught at the other end of the toy.

Other objects of my invention may appear in the following specification describing my invention with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention.

It is, however, to be understood, that my invention is not to be limited or restricted to the exact construction and combination of parts described in the specification and shown in the drawing, but that such changes and modifications can be made, which fall within the scope of the claim appended hereto.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the toy forming the subject matter of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1 a ball being shown in the track portion of the toy.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 in Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on line 4-4 r in Figure 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawing the toy according to my invention has a substantially arcuate track consisting of a bottom rail i0 and two upper side rails H. The bottom rail I0 is located below and half way between the upper side rails ll. These siderails may extend over their entire length parallel to each other, but preferably the main portions only of these rails extend parallel to each other, and on the outer ends thereof are flaring outwardly as at I2 in Figure 1. The two upper side rails are formed from one continuous piece of wire and are connected with each other on their ends by loops [3, as shown in Figure 1. The bottom rail I0 is arrangedso that the ends thereof abut the connecting loops l3 and the bottom rail may be attached to these loops, for instance by welding.

Centrally of the track a stiffening member M is provided in the form of a curved piece of wire.

"ATE-NT OFFICE formed, which surrounds the bottom rail l0 and the upper rails ll much as does the stiffening member l4. Each of these loops [5 is welded to the rails and is arranged adjacent the flaring part of the upper side rails l i.

From the loops t5 the wire forming the handle extends radially inwardly of the arcuate track and the two wire strands converge upwardly, as shown at [B in Figure 1. After convergence, the two strand portions l1, Figure 3, extend parallel to each other and to a chord connecting the extremities of the loops l3 comprising the ends of the device. A hand grip I8 is formed around such parallel portions l! of said strands. The grip l 8 can be made from any preferred suitable material such as plastic, leather and the like.

Attention is called to the fact, that, while the toy is shown and described as made from wire, it can be made also from solid sheet metal, from plastic or any other suitable material. Furthermore, two bottom rails can be provided instead of only one, and the handle can be arranged at one side or at either end, or on the bottom, if so desired, instead of midways between the rails as. shown and described.

In use a ball I9 is put onto the track resting on the bottom rail l0 and prevented from falling from the track and guided on the track by the upper side rails II.

By swinging the toy lengthwise of the track the ball I 9 can be ejected selectively at either end of the track. When the game is played by two or more persons, the opponent endeavors to catch the ball on one of the flared-out portions of the track and then swings the toy on the grip l8 to return the ball I9 to the first player or to pass it on to a third player.

When only one person plays with this toy, he endeavors to eject the ball 19 from eitherend of the track and to catch it on the same or the opposite end of the track.

For the use of one person the toy can be formed in such curve, that the ball when ejected, will execute a full circle and will return onto track, and can be manipulated to move continuously in this manner.

It is also to be understood that the toy and the ball used in connectio therewith may vary in sizes and measurements.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In a ball-throwing and catching toy, a doubleended arcuate track for receiving and throwing a ball at and from either end thereof, a hand grip positioned equidistant from the ends of said track and spaced from the latter, and means carried by said track and secured to said hand grip for fixedly supporting said hand grip, said means comprising a pair of wire loops each po- 7 sitioned substantially intermediate an end of said 3 hand grip and said track and arranged substantially radially with respect to the latter, said loops each being secured to said hand grip at the end of the latter adjacent thereto and each fixedly encircling said track adjacent an end of the latter.

WILLIAM L. BERRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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